India is rapidly expanding its data centre capacity to establish itself as a global hub for digital infrastructure [1, 2].
This expansion is critical for the nation to support the growth of artificial intelligence and the broader digital economy. By scaling infrastructure, India aims to capitalize on its data advantage and attract significant foreign and domestic capital [2].
Maharashtra has emerged as the primary driver of this growth. Kaustubh Dhavse, chief advisor to the Maharashtra chief minister, said the state currently hosts about 66% of India's total data centre capacity [1]. Dhavse said Maharashtra is well placed to emerge as a global hub for the sector [1].
The scale of the national ambition is reflected in long-term projections. India's data centre capacity is expected to exceed nine GW by 2030 [2]. This growth is supported by a surge in demand, with net offtake growing more than 48% year-on-year in the first half of 2025 [2].
Financial commitments are also scaling to meet these technical requirements. The industry is targeting fresh investment commitments of over $56 billion in 2025 [2]. These investments focus on speed, scale, and sustainability to ensure the infrastructure can meet modern computing needs, particularly for AI workloads.
The strategy involves creating a sustainable ecosystem that can handle massive data loads while maintaining energy efficiency. As the region attracts more investment, the focus is shifting toward creating a resilient network of centres that can serve both domestic needs and international clients [2].
“Maharashtra currently hosts about 66 per cent of India's total data centre capacity”
The concentration of two-thirds of India's data capacity in Maharashtra highlights a regional imbalance but also creates a specialized economic cluster. By targeting 9 GW by 2030, India is attempting to move beyond being a consumer of digital services to becoming a primary provider of the physical infrastructure that powers global AI and cloud computing.
